Saving Self Through Writing
Recently, I read the book that the movie Precious was based upon. The book Push by Sapphire is one of the most moving books that I’ve read in a long time. The book is about a sixteen year old girl who is pregnant with her father’s second child. Precious is illiterate, black and poor, and the odds don’t look good for her. But, Precious keeps fighting for a better life.
In the book, one of the ways that Precious regains her self is through writing. In the beginning of the book, she cannot read or write, by the end she is writing up a storm. Here is one of the poems that she writes in the novel.
everi mornin by Precious J
Everi mornin i write a poem before I go to school marY Had a little lamb but I got a kid an HIV that folow me to school one day.
My favorite part of this poem is the usage of a typical childhood rhyme and then places Precious hard, gritty life into it. The images are so contradictory that is makes both of them striking. Mary Had a Little Lamb becomes completely absurd next to Precious problems, yet Precious retains some sense of humor by allowing her problems to follow her to school…as the lamb did with Mary.
Stay tuned, my review of the book Push will be posted tomorrow.
FreeVerse is a weekly meme created by Ooh…Books. The idea behind the meme is to celebrate poetry is some way or fashion. Write your own or share a poem that you love. All is welcome with this meme.
Aaaw! I heard a lot of good reviews for Precious and I think I’d rather read the book first before the movie. I think this will be another “The Blind Side”-ish movie.
Hi Lex Cut – I haven’t seen Blind Side, but from what I know of the story, I think Precious is a lot darker. I don’t want to give too much away, but Precious (Push) really deals with poverty, how hard it is to get out, and how the school systems fails many students.
Beautiful, moving, disturbing–pretty much all you can ask for in a poem! I loved it!
A poem like this makes you look at life in a whole ‘nother light!
I haven’t seen the movie or read the book. I’m sure it’s depressing in many ways.
Hi Kelly – I think that the book is overall really dark, but I think because of the changes that Precious goes through…I think it’s hopeful too (at least, that is the way I chose to see it). Why her circumstance may not change drastically, how she sees the world can change and I think is part of the beauty of the book.
I’m with you, J.T. I love poetry that is a little bit disturbing
I love this movie and book